Radhika Varma

🪔 About

Radhika Varma is a pioneering figure in the world of Indian classical dance, particularly known for her contributions to Kathakali as a senior and founding member of the Tripunithura Vanitha Kathakali Sangham, the first all-women Kathakali troupe in India. Born into a family of Kathakali aficionados, her father, KTR Varma, encouraged the formation of the troupe. She received her Kathakali training under the tutelage of the legendary Padma Shri Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, as well as FACT Padmanabhan, R.L.V. Damodara Pisharody, and Kala Vijayan. Radhika Varma also holds a Gurukula certificate in Mohiniyattam, having trained under Smt. Kalyanikkutty Amma and Kala Vijayan. Her debut performance with the Tripunithura Vanitha Kathakali Sangham was in 1975, where she notably portrayed the role of Bhima in "Kalyanasougandhikam." Over her extensive career, she has performed in over 800 stages across Kerala and other Indian cities like Bombay, Madras, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Pondicherry. She is adept at portraying various Kathakali characters, including pacha, kathi, thadi, minukku, and sthreevesha. The troupe, with Radhika Varma as a key member, has performed over 2,000 shows and was honored with the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2017, which Radhika Varma collected from the former President Pranab Mukherjee in 2016. She was also a recipient of the Express Krishnan Award in 1985 for her contributions to Kathakali. Awards & Honours: Nari Shakti Puraskar (2017), Express Krishnan Award (1985), Winner in Kerala University youth festivals.